Vacancy
Background:
The Presence is implementing the extra-budgetary project aimed at supporting the Albanian justice institutions to further advance the rule of law through strengthening their policy development and enhancing institutional capacities. Under Project Component III, the Presence supports the School of Magistrates to equip judges, prosecutors and lawyers with skills to efficiently apply substantive and procedural rules, so that the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial processes is increased. It also assists the School to reinforce its capacity in the training of serious offences. In view of the continuous allegations on electoral fraud in Albania and the low number of electoral offences investigated and adjudicated by the authorities, taking into account the 2019 Local Elections and in order to promote confidence in the electoral process against criminal behaviour, the Presence will support the School of Magistrates to provide a two-days training on electoral criminal offences to judges and prosecutors as part of the School’s continuous training programme. The purpose of the training – to be held by one international expert with extensive expertise and knowledge on best international practices on investigating and adjudicating electoral offences and by one local expert who will present on the relevant Albanian law and practice - is to further enhance the knowledge of these practitioners so that instances and allegations of electoral offences are thoroughly and effectively investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated.
Objective:
The Presence’s Rule of Law and Human Rights Department is looking for an international expert responsible for designing and delivering – together with a local expert - two day training seminar for judges and prosecutors on best international practices on investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating electoral criminal offences.
Tasks/Responsibilities:
Under the guidance of the OSCE Manager of project component and the overall supervision of the Project Manager and the Head of Department (OSCE Project Staff), the Expert will be responsible for preparing and delivering two day training in Tirana for thirty judges and prosecutors on international practices on investigating and adjudicating electoral offences. The expert shall provide practical guidance on successful investigation of electoral crimes. More specifically, the expert is expected to:
1) Participate in conference calls with the local expert, organized by the Presence’s point of contact to discuss the structure of the training and agree on an agenda and training materials (such as handouts, case studies or slides) to be shared with the participants. Based on the discussions of the conference calls and of written communication between the experts, the Presence’s point of contact will finalize the agenda and share it with the international and local expert;
2) Design a program for two-day training of electoral criminal offences focusing on best practices and techniques on investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating electoral criminal offences. The training materials will be prepared in written as handouts and shall include but should not be limited to the following: o specific problems faced by the investigating authorities in connection with the investigation and prosecution of electoral crimes (Electoral fraud, Voter coercion, Obstructing the electoral process, Crimes or offences against voter registration, Unlawful campaign financing, “Patronage Crimes”, Deprivation and unlawful limitation of the right to vote of minority or vulnerable groups, etc.); o issues and opportunities during the phase of gathering evidence (preservation and analysis of documental evidence; financial investigations, use of public databases of financial transactions, investigative strategy targeting low-level participants for the purpose of encouraging them to testify against higher level perpetrators, etc.) o covert investigative techniques o connection between corruption and electoral processes; o detection of methods used by organized criminal groups to influence the electoral processes; o minimization of the risk that the investigation impacts upon the adjudication of election litigation in courts; o conceptual distinction between electoral criminal offence and electoral administrative infractions o best practices from at least one jurisdiction with an advanced system of detecting and prosecuting electoral crimes.
The materials should also contain a case study which will be prepared in collaboration with the local expert before the training.
3) Submit to the Presence training materials by 3 June 2019;
4) Deliver the training to be held on 13-14 June 2019 with the School of Magistrates with judges, prosecutors in line with the training materials and the agenda, and address questions from the audience by offering suggestions and technical advice necessary for the performance of their tasks;
5) Prepare written summary of conclusions on the outcome of the training seminar and the need for additional training, submitted to the Presence by 21 June 2019.
6) Continuously liaise with and if necessary seek advice from the OSCE Project Staff throughout the discharge of the consultancy activities.
Expected Outputs/Deliverables:
• Training materials in handouts for the participants of the training, as described under section “Tasks and responsibilities”, to be submitted by 3 June 2019 to the Presence • Delivery of one session of the two day training in Tirana, on electoral crimes, on 13-14 June 2019. • Written summary of conclusions on the outcome of the training seminar and the need for additional training, submitted to the Presence by 21 June 2019.
Necessary Qualifications:
Knowledge and Experience
• Advanced university degree in Law;
• A minimum of five years of professional experience as prosecutor or police officer;
• Proven experience in direct investigation of electoral criminal offences in at least one jurisdiction other than Albania;
• Experience in working as prosecutor, judge or criminal justice expert in international organizations or countries undergoing justice reform processes is an asset;
• Solid knowledge of international practices in the investigation of electoral offences;
• Experience as a trainer in the area;
• Excellent communication and drafting skills in English; knowledge of Albanian would be an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.
Competencies
• Actively contributes to achieving the purpose of the assignment
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a member of a team
• Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with the project staff and collaborators
• Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner
• Analyses available information and draws well-founded conclusions
Remuneration
The payment for this vacancy will be 2,400 Euros, payable in lump sum upon confirmation of receipt and aproval of all the deliverables by the Project Manager.
How to apply
All applications are due by 02 May 2019. If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under link https://jobs.osce.org/. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer a contract with modified Terms of Reference or for a different duration. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization. Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.